A man in his 40s from Gloucester has been arrested on suspicion of sexually assaulting a schoolgirl on a bus, prompting a police appeal for witnesses to come forward.
On Monday, April 20, police received reports that an unknown man had been repeatedly approaching a girl while she waited at a bus stop on Brookfield Road in Churchdown around 3:30 pm. The man allegedly boarded the number 98 bus and touched the girl’s thigh and arm without her consent, accompanied by sexualized remarks.
The girl contacted the police again on Wednesday afternoon, April 22, after the same man approached her on the bus once more. Alerted by the girl, the bus driver stopped the vehicle, preventing the suspect from disembarking.
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Police arrived promptly and arrested the man. He has since been released on conditional bail as inquiries continue.
Investigating officers are urging anyone who was near the bus stop or on the bus during the times in question to provide any information, including CCTV or smartphone footage. Witnesses can report details using the online form on the Gloucestershire Police website, quoting incident 339 of April 22.
In response to the incident, the Tewkesbury Neighbourhood Policing Team will conduct reassurance patrols in the area during school hours in the coming days to ensure community safety.